Automatically deployable and storable cover apparatus for directing cotton flow from a conveyor duct of a cotton harvester to a cotton receiver thereof

ABSTRACT

The apparatus for directing a flow of air and cotton from a cotton conveyor duct of a cotton harvester into a cotton receiver includes a cover member and a mounting element configured for mounting the cover member to a cotton conveyor duct for movement between a first position located at least partially in a path of a flow of air and cotton discharged through a discharge outlet of the duct, and a second position located adjacent to the path for directing the flow therealong. The cover member when in the first position is movable to the second position by a force exerted thereagainst by a flow of at least air discharged from the duct. A locking element of the apparatus is configured for automatically holding the cover member in the second position, the locking element being automatically operable for releasing the cover member when a downward force is applied thereagainst by the cotton receiver for moving the cover member to the first position.

This divisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 fromU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/230,045 filed on Sep. 19, 2005 byTracy R. Archer et al. with the same title, the full disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a device or apparatus for directingand guiding a flow of cotton from a conveyor duct or pipe of a cottonharvesting machine into a cotton receiver such as a basket, packager, orother receiver of the machine, and more particularly, to an apparatusmountable adjacent to a discharge outlet of a cotton conveyor duct andincluding a cover member automatically movable by predetermined actionsbetween a stored position which allows collapsing of the cottonreceiver, and a deployed position for directing and guiding a flow ofcotton from the duct into the receiver.

BACKGROUND ART

Presently, when harvesting cotton, in many instances, it is desirable toharvest as many rows of cotton plants as possible during a pass of aharvesting machine through a field of cotton plants. It is now commonfor as many as 6 rows of plants to be simultaneously picked from bothsides. Typically, a cotton harvesting machine includes a plurality ofside-by-side ducts or pipes extending upwardly from the picker units ofthe harvesting apparatus to an inlet opening of a cotton receiver. Somecotton receivers are typically baskets and may, or may not, includeapparatus for packaging or compacting cotton received therein to someextent. The ducts extending in side-by-side relation from the pickerunits are typically positioned to propel flows of cotton and air throughthe inlet opening which typically extends across all or much of thesideward extent of the upper front end of the cotton receiver. The flowsof air from the ducts are typically strong enough to carry at least someof the cotton through the upper region of the receiver into a rearregion of the interior thereof. The receiver can include cottoncompacting and distributing apparatus therein, such as a frame carryingone or more augers rotatable in one or both rotational directions fordistributing the cotton within a lower region of the receiver, to theextent desired or required.

Typically, when a cotton receiver is filled to its capacity with cotton,or at other times, the receiver can be unloaded. Some cotton receiversare raised in their entirety f or unloading. For others, only the frontend of the receiver is raised, so at to tilt the receiver for unloading.In both instances, the front end of the receiver is required to be movedaway from the cotton ducts, which remain in their operational positions.Additionally, many cotton receivers are telescopically extended upwardlyor otherwise enlarged for use, and are telescopically retracted orcollapsed for travel over public roads and storage. When the cottonreceiver is telescopically retracted or collapsed in a transport andstorage mode, the ducts are also typically telescopically retracted orcollapsed to a reduced height.

To ensure that all or substantially all of the cotton conveyed throughthe ducts flows into the cotton receiver, the cotton receiver typicallyincludes one or more cover or hood members moved to, or placed in, adeployed position above the inlet openings of the cotton receiver andthe discharge outlets of the ducts, for directing or guiding the air andcotton flows from the discharge outlets into the inlet openings.Presently, known embodiments of such cover and hood members are hingedlymounted to the receiver above the inlet opening, so as to be movablebetween a stored position typically located in or over the inlet openingso as to allow the upper portion of the receiver to be telescopicallyretracted into a lower portion of the receiver, and the deployedposition extending forwardly in relation to the inlet opening.

The cotton receivers of at least some known harvesting machines aremoved between their telescopically retracted and extended positionsautomatically using fluid cylinders provided for that purpose. Thecotton conveying ducts of those machines are manually extended andretracted, but this is typically a relatively easy task as the ducts arereadily accessible from a service platform of the harvesting machine.The hood or cover member or members are also presently manually deployedand stored, but this is a more difficult and time consuming task, and isundesirable, due to the location of the hood or cover member or memberson the upper region of the cotton receiver.

Thus, what is sought is a device or apparatus for directing a flow ofair and cotton from a cotton conveyor duct of a cotton harvester into acotton receiver, which can be more advantageously deployed and stored,and which overcomes one or more of the problems and shortcomings setforth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is disclosed is an apparatus or device for directing a flow of airand cotton from a cotton conveyor duct of a cotton harvester into acotton receiver, which is more advantageously deployable and storable,and which overcomes one or more of the problems and shortcomings setforth above.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the apparatus includesa cover member and a mounting element configured for mounting the covermember to a cotton conveyor duct for automatic movement between a firstor stored position advantageously located so as to allow telescopicretraction of a cotton receiver, and a deployed position for directingand guiding a flow of air and cotton from a discharge outlet of the ductto an inlet opening on an upper portion of the cotton receiver. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, in its first or stored positionthe cover member is positioned and configured so as to extend at leastpartially across the discharge outlet of the duct, or at least partiallyin a path of a flow of air and cotton discharged therethrough, so as tobe automatically movable to the second or deployed position by a forceexerted against the cover member by a flow of at least air, and usuallyalso cotton, discharged from the duct.

The apparatus preferably includes a locking element configured forautomatically holding the cover member in the second or deployedposition, the locking element also preferably being automaticallyoperable for releasing the cover member when a downward force is appliedthereagainst, to allow the cover member to be automatically moved to thefirst or stored position. In this latter regard, the cover member, whenin the deployed position, is preferably located so as to be contacted byan element on, or some portion of, the cotton receiver when moveddownwardly to telescopically retracted or otherwise collapsed or reducethe height thereof, for moving the cover member to the first or storedposition. As a result, automatic movement of the cover member betweenthe stored and deployed positions thereof, in concert with the movementof the cotton receiver between its stored and deployed positions, isachieved.

According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the lockingelement is magnetic. That is, it is capable of magnetically holding thecover member in the second or deployed position, and releasing the covermember to allow it to move or be moved to the first or stored positionby some action, for instance, by the downward movement of the cottonreceiver to its stored position. As a preferred embodiment, the magneticlocking element can include a magnet disposed on an arm of or extendingfrom the cover member, positioned so as to be brought into proximity orcontact with a ferrous member on the duct, when the cover member ismoved to the second or deployed position.

Thus, when the cotton receiver is in a telescopically retracted or otherlowered position, and it is desired to render the cotton receiveroperational, the receiver is telescopically or otherwise raised to itsoperational or deployed position. The cotton conveying ducts can bealready extended or deployed, or can be extended or deployed at thistime. The cover members will be in their first or stored positions onthe ducts, located so as to be moved to their second or deployedpositions by a predetermined action, such as the commencement of atleast air, and more typically, air and cotton flow, through thedischarge outlets and into the inlet opening of the cotton receiver.During the deployment and thereafter, the cover members will bepositioned for guiding or directing the air and cotton flows into theinlet opening. Subsequently, when it is desired to render or transformthe cotton receiver into its stored or transport mode, with some action,such as when the upper portion of the cotton receiver is lowered, theelement or portion thereof positioned to contact the cover member willexert a sufficient force thereagainst for causing the locking element torelease the cover member and allow it to move to the stored position, aseffected by gravity, or the contact with the receiver as it is lowered,or a combination of both.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified partial side view of the front end of a cottonharvesting machine, showing a cotton receiver and cotton conveying ductsof the machine, and also apparatus for directing a flow of air andcotton from the ducts to the cotton receiver according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified front view of the machine, showing the cottonreceiver and ducts, and further illustrating the locations of theapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified fragmentary side view of the harvesting machineof FIG. 1, showing the cotton conveying ducts and the cotton receiver intheir deployed positions, and the apparatus of the invention in itsdeployed position;

FIG. 4 is another simplified fragmentary side view of the machine,showing the cotton receiver in its stored position and the apparatus ofthe invention in its stored position;

FIG. 5 is still another simplified fragmentary side view of the machine,showing the cotton receiver in an unloading position and the apparatusof the invention in its deployed position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus of the invention shown in astored position thereof in association with a cotton conveying duct;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a duct and the cottonreceiver, showing the apparatus of the invention in a deployed positionextending therebetween;

FIG. 8 is another fragmentary side view of the duct and cotton receiver,showing the cotton receiver in a lowered position and the apparatus ofthe invention in a stored position;

FIG. 9 is a simplified fragmentary side view of the duct and cottonreceiver, showing the apparatus of the invention in its deployedposition and in contact with an element of the cotton receiver;

FIG. 9 a is another simplified fragmentary schematic side view of theduct and cotton receiver, showing the cotton receiver in a loweredposition for disengaging a locking element of the apparatus of theinvention; and

FIG. 9 b is still another simplified fragmentary side view of the ductand cotton receiver, showing the receiver lowered and the cover memberin its stored position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cotton harvestingmachine 10 is shown, including a plurality of automatically deployableand storable cover apparatus 12 constructed and operable according tothe teachings of the present invention, for directing individual flowsof air and cotton into a cotton receiver 14 of machine 10. Harvestingmachine 10 includes a plurality of harvesting units 16 arranged in aside-by-side array across a front end 18 of machine 10 for harvestingcotton from plants as machine 10 is moved in the forward direction alongrows of the plants (not shown). The harvested cotton is conveyed by airflows individually through a side-by-side array of ducts 20 extendingupwardly and rearwardly from units 16 into a front end 22 of cottonreceiver 14, as denoted by arrows A in FIG. 1. The air flows aregenerated by a blower or blowers located on the machine.

Referring also to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, cotton receiver 14 is depicted as amodern cotton module builder, which is a structure of rectangular shape,including an interior cotton compacting chamber 24 defined by a floor26, forward and rearward end walls 28 and 30, and opposing side walls32. Receiver 14 is of telescopic construction, including an upperreceiver portion which is telescopically receivable in a lower receiverportion for travel and storage, as illustrated in FIG. 4. At least endwalls 28 and 30, and side walls 32, are preferably constructed of an airpermeable material, such as a mesh or perforated sheeting having holesor openings therein adequate for dissipation of air flow therethrough,but which will retain the cotton therein.

Cotton receiver 14 is operable for receiving cotton conveyed thereto byducts 20, into compacting chamber 24 through an elongate, sidewardlyextending inlet opening 34 in an upper end of forward end wall 28, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cotton received in this manner is compactedwithin chamber 24 by compacting apparatus 36 located therein andoperable for distributing the cotton within the chamber and compactingit against floor 26 into a unitary mass or module. The compacted unitarymass or module will have dimensions approximating the longitudinal andsideward extent of the interior of the receiver.

The compacted mass or module is unloadable from receiver 14 by tiltingthe forward end of receiver 14 upwardly, and conveying the modulerearwardly therefrom over an unloading ramp deployable from the rear endof receiver 14, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

It can be observed from a study of the above discussed figures that theupper ends of ducts 20 are horizontally spaced from forward wall 28 ofcotton receiver 14, which facilitates the telescoping movement ofreceiver 14 required for movement between the deployed position thereof(FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), and the stored or travel position (FIG. 4), and alsothe tilting of receiver 14 for unloading (FIG. 5).

Referring also to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, 9 a and 9 b, cover apparatus 12 ofeach of ducts 20 preferably includes a generally flat cover member 38 ofsuitable rigid plastics or metal construction having an extent in theforward and rear direction which is sufficient to span the space betweenthe upper end of the respective duct 20 and inlet opening 34 of receiver14. Cover member 38 is preferably pivotally mounted to an upper edge 40the respective duct 20 by a suitable pivoting element such as hinge 42shown, for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal pivotal axis,between a first or stored position (FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 b), extending atleast partially across a discharge outlet 44 of the duct, and a secondor deployed position at least substantially spanning the space betweenthe duct 20 and the inlet opening 34, and more preferably completelyspanning the space, such that a distal end 46 of cover member 38 extendsinto inlet opening 34 and abuts, or is located in close proximity to, anedge 48 defining a peripheral edge of opening 34, or another element inconnection with receiver 14 and movable downwardly therewith. As aresult, in the deployed position, cover member 38 provides a smooth,continuous extension of the upper portion of duct 20, into inlet opening34, f or guiding and directing the flow of cotton therein, withoutsnagging and other problems.

When in its first or stored position, cover member 38 is preferablypositioned and configured so as to extend at least partially acrossdischarge outlet 44 of the duct 20, or at least partially in a path of aflow of air and cotton discharged therethrough (arrow A in FIG. 1), soas to be automatically movable to the second or deployed position by aforce exerted against the cover member by at least the flow of air fromthe duct. Here, it should be recognized that the blower or blowers thatgenerate flow A may be started prior to harvesting, and thus, there canbe instances wherein it will be desired for just the flow of air, in theabsence of cotton, to be capable of moving cover member 38 from itsstored position to its deployed position.

Cover apparatus 12 additionally preferably includes a locking element 50configured for automatically holding cover member 38 in the second ordeployed position, locking element 50 also preferably beingautomatically operable for releasing cover member 38 when a downwardforce is applied thereagainst, to allow the cover member to beautomatically moved to the first or stored position. In this latterregard, cover member 38, when in the deployed position, is preferablylocated so as to be contacted by an element on, or some portion of,cotton receiver 14 when moved downwardly to telescopically retracted orotherwise collapsed or reduce the height thereof, for moving the covermember to the first or stored position. In this embodiment, such elementis edge 48 in inlet opening 34 of receiver 14, as illustrated by thesequence of FIGS. 9, 9 a and 9 b. As a result, automatic movement ofcover member 38 between the stored and deployed positions thereof, inconcert with the movement of cotton receiver 14 between its stored anddeployed positions, is achieved.

Locking element 50 is preferably magnetic, including a magnet 52 at anappropriate location, such as shown on an arm 54 extending from covermember 38, for attracting a ferrous element, such as ferrous element 58which is a small steel plate or fastener, shown located on duct 20forwardly of hinge 42, magnet 52 being capable of magnetically holdingcover member 38 in the second or deployed position, and releasing thecover member to allow it to move or be moved to the first or storedposition by some action, for instance, by the downward movement ofcotton receiver 14 to its stored position. As an alternative, the magnet52 can be located on the duct 20 and the ferrous element 58 located onthe cover member 38, as desired or required for a particularapplication.

Thus, when cotton receiver 14 is in its telescopically retracted orother lowered position, and it is desired to render it operational, thereceiver 14 is telescopically or otherwise raised to its operational ordeployed position. The cotton conveying ducts 20 can be already extendedor deployed, or can be extended or deployed at this time. The covermembers 38 will be in their first or stored positions on the ducts 20,located so as to be movable to their second or deployed positions byinitiation of air the flow through the ducts. During the deployment andthereafter, the cover members 38 will be positioned for guiding ordirecting the air and cotton flows into the inlet opening. Subsequently,when it is desired to render or transform the cotton receiver 14 intoits stored or transport mode, when the upper portion of the cottonreceiver 14 is lowered, the edge 48 will exert a sufficient downwardforce against the cover member for causing the locking element 50 torelease the cover member and allow it to move to the stored position, aseffected by gravity, or the contact with the receiver as it is lowered,or a combination of both.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps, andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and ray be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention. The foregoing descriptionillustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however,concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the inventionbroadly as well as in the specific form shown.

1. An automatically deployable and storable cover apparatus for a cottonconveyor duct of a cotton harvester, comprising: a cover memberpivotally mounted on a cotton conveyor duct so as to be located above adischarge outlet of the duct, the discharge outlet being spaced from aninlet opening of a downwardly movable cotton receiver, the cover memberbeing pivotally movable between a first position extending at leastpartially across the discharge outlet, and a second position extendingoutwardly from the outlet toward the inlet opening of the cottonreceiver, the cover member when in the first position beingautomatically pivotally movable to the second position by a forceexerted thereagainst by a flow of air discharged from the outlet, thecover member when in the second position extending from the duct to alocation below a structural element of the cotton receiver adjacent toan upper periphery of the inlet opening thereof so as to be positionedfor directing a flow of air and cotton discharged from the dischargeoutlet into the inlet opening, and such that the structural element ofthe cotton receiver can be moved downwardly against the cover member tomove the cover member to the first position; and a locking elementconfigured for automatically holding the cover member in the secondposition and releasing the cover member when the structural element ofthe cotton receiver is moved downwardly thereagainst, for allowing thecover member to be moved thereby to the first position, wherein thelocking element comprises a magnetic element disposed for magneticallyholding the cover member in the second position.
 2. The cover apparatusof claim 1, wherein the magnet is located on the cover member and thelocking element further comprises a ferrous element in connection withthe duct.
 3. The cover apparatus claim 2, wherein the magnet is locatedon an arm extending from the cover member.